About the Kilt SkateIn January 2015, Montreal’s St Andrew’s Society joined with other Scottish societies in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary and Winnipeg and held the Sir John A. Great Canadian Kilt Skate. We invited everyone to come to the Skating Rink at the Vieux-Port de Montreal in kilt, tartan or other Scottish gear and skate! Many came and enjoyed the whirl of the pipes and joy of skating on great ice. Since then it has become an annual event.

Montreal's Old Port and the Scottish CommunityMontreal’s Old Port has great significance for Montreal’s Scottish community. Montreal operated as one of the primary ports for the fur trade in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and the city’s Scottish traders (such as the XY and Northwest Companies) built their fortunes on the materials coming in and out of the port. Later on in the 19th century, Scottish businessmen used the port for their transatlantic trade. It was also the place where many of them had landed as fresh immigrants ready to make their fortune. The port is surrounded by Old Montreal, where they built their first homes and businesses. ​

2018 Kilt SkateThe 4th Annual Great Canadian Kilt Skate took place on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Natrel Skating Rink in the Old Port of Montreal. Thanks to the generous support of the Scottish government, tartan-clad skaters were able to skate for free and enjoy hot chocolate and a slice of delicious cake.The media was there as well! Click the links below to see video, photos and commentary:

About Us

Founded in 1835, the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal is a charitable society dedicated to the assistance of Montreal’s Scottish community, to education, and to the preservation of Scottish arts and culture.